Colorado Theatre Guild announces winners of 19th Annual Henry Awards

Rocky Mountain Repertory locks a surprising five wins for its production of ‘Come from Away.’

LONE TREE – The Colorado Theatre Guild Monday announced the winners of the 19th Annual Henry Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in Colorado theatre during the 2024-2025 season. The awards ceremony took place at the Lone Tree Arts Center.

In a strong showing, Grand Lake’s Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre in Grand Lake beat out the Denver Center Theatre Company with seven wins to their five. It was one of the best showings by a theatre outside the metro area in recent memory. The only other company with more than two wins was the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company with three.

Outstanding Production of a Play went to Downstate by Curious Theatre Company, while Outstanding Production of a Musical was awarded to Come from Away by Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre.

In the directing categories, Rick Barbour won Outstanding Director of a Play for Grounded at Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC), and Jeff Duke took Outstanding Director of a Musical for Come from Away at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre.

Michael Querio was recognized for Outstanding Musical Direction for The Music Man at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre.

Notable theatres that scored no Henry Awards this year include:

• Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
• Colorado Shakespeare Festival
• Theatreworks
• Creede Repertory Theatre
• Town Hall Arts Center
• Buntport Theater Company

What are the Henry Awards?

Performance Awards

The Outstanding Performer categories featured multiple winners across two tiers. Notable winners include Anne Penner (Outstanding Performer in a Play, Tier 1) for Grounded at BETC, Rosa Isabella Salvatierra (Outstanding Performer in a Play, Tier 1) for I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter at DCPA Theatre Company, and Shabazz Green (Outstanding Performer in a Musical, Tier 1) for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities.

In Tier 2 (smaller theatres), there was a three-way tie for Outstanding Performer in a Play, with Miranda Byers (Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company), Wendy Ishii (The Trip to Bountiful, Bas Bleu Theatre Company), and Johnathan Underwood (Blues for an Alabama Sky, Firehouse Theater Company) sharing the honor.

From left: Katie Medved, Miranda Byers and Matthew Combs in the Firehouse Theater production of ‘Perfect Arrangement.’ | Photo: Soular Radiant Photography

Luiza Vitucci won Outstanding Performer in a Musical, Tier 1 for Come from Away at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, while Clark Destin Jones (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Give 5 Productions) and Jennasea Pearce (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company) won in Tier 2.

Featured Performer Awards

Isaiah Tyrelle Boyd (The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company) and Leslie Sophia Pérez (I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company) won Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play, Tier 1.

Will Branner (Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company) and Mitchell Lewis (The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre) took Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical, Tier 1.

Technical and Creative Awards

Come From Away by Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre won Outstanding Ensemble Performance, while Jennifer Lupp received Outstanding Choreography for the same production.

In design categories, Kevin Copenhaver won Outstanding Costume Design for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Vance McKenzie took Outstanding Lighting Design for National Bohemians, Tony Cisek won Outstanding Scenic Design for The Hot Wing King, and John Hauser received Outstanding Sound Design for National Bohemians.

Phillip Schneider and Peter Van Wagner in the Denver Center world premiere of ‘The Reservoir’ by Jake Brasch. | Photo: Jamie Kraus Photography

New Works Recognition

The DCPA Theatre Company company of The Reservoir by Jake Brasch was honored as Outstanding New Play or Musical – World Premiere.

Lifetime Achievement Award

KQ, Artistic Director of Magic Moments, Inc., received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to Colorado theatre. (Read John Moore’s story about KQ in The Denver Gazette).

Complete List of Nominees and Winners

Outstanding Production of a Play

• Dial M for Murder, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
• Downstate, Curious Theatre Company (WINNER)
• I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company
• The Reservoir, DCPA Theatre Company
• National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center

Outstanding Production of a Musical

• A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
• Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre (WINNER)
• The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Director of a Play

• Laura Alcalá Baker, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company
• Rick Barbour, Grounded, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC) (WINNER)
• Timothy Douglas, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company
• Christy Montour-Larson, Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
• Elise Santora, Dial M for Murder, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College

Outstanding Director of a Musical

• Chris Coleman, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
• Lynne Collins, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Jeff Duke, Come from Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre (WINNER)
• Jeff Duke, Kinky Boots, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Sally Scott, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction

• Michael Querio, Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Michael Querio, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre (WINNER)
• Dom Scott, Million Dollar Quartet, Lone Tree Arts Center
• Angela Steiner, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
• Alec Steinhorn, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

Anne Penner played a conflicted Air Force UAV pilot in ‘Grounded’ at BETC | Photos: Susannah McLeod

Outstanding Performer in a Play – Two Recipients in Each Tier

Tier 1

• Terence Archie, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company
• Alan Ball, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Creede Repertory Theatre
• Jacob Dresch, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Colorado Shakespeare Festival
• Logan Ernstthal, Henry IV & V, Theatreworks
• Tim Fishbaugh, National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
• Drew Horwitz, The White Chip, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC)
• Tammy Meneghini, Morning After Grace, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
• Anne Penner, Grounded, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC) (WINNER)
• Colton Pratt, Henry IV & V, Theatreworks
• Katie Rodriguez, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Creede Repertory Theatre
• Rosa Isabella Salvatierra, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company (WINNER)
• Michael Shayan, Avaaz, DCPA Theatre Company
• Megan Van De Hey, ‘night Mother, Town Hall Arts Center

Tier 2 – TIE for first spot, Three Recipients in This Tier

• Miranda Byers, Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company (WINNER)
• Mark Collins, The Trip to Bountiful, Bas Bleu Theatre Company
• Alex J. Gould, Stockade, Local Theater Company
• Wendy Ishii, The Trip to Bountiful, Bas Bleu Theatre Company (WINNER)
• Regan Linton, The Menagerist, Buntport Theater Company
• Frank Oden, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare in the Wild
• Jacob Offen, The 39 Steps, OpenStage Theatre & Company
• Cheryl Sakaria, The Girl on the Train, Firehouse Theater Company
• Simone St. John, Stockade, Local Theater Company
• Kelly Uhlenhopp, Othello 2024, Firehouse Theater Company
• Johnathan Underwood, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Firehouse Theater Company (WINNER)
• Aaron Vega, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare in the Wild
  

  Shabazz Green played many D’Ysquites in the show. | Photo: Amanda Tipton Photography

Outstanding Performer in a Musical – Two Recipients in Each Tier

Tier 1

• John Harmon Cooper, Kinky Boots, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Shabazz Green, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities (WINNER)
• Gizel Jiménez, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
• Mitchell Lewis, Kinky Boots, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Dom Scott, Million Dollar Quartet, Lone Tree Arts Center
• Tyler Symone, Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Tyler Symone, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Anne Terze-Schwarz, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Luiza Vitucci, Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre (WINNER)
• Nik Vlachos, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre

Tier 2

• Madison Falkenstine, Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s Mary Poppins, Give 5 Productions and Parker Arts
• Maya A. Hernandez-Pearson, Cabaret, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
• Clark Destin Jones, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Give 5 Productions (WINNER)
• Cooper Kaminsky, Sweeney Todd, StageDoor Theatre
• Abigail Kochevar, Cabaret, Platte Valley Theatre Arts
• Jeffrey Parker, Cabaret, Platte Valley Theatre Arts
• Jennasea Pearce, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company (WINNER)
• Emma Rebecca Maxfield, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Give 5 Productions
• Jason Rexx, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company
• L. Bryce Welborn, Cabaret, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre

From left: Isaiah Tyrelle Boyd, Terence Archie and Jacques Jean-Mary in ‘The Hot Wing King’ at the Denver Center. | Photo: Jamie Kraus Photography

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play – Two Recipients in Each Tier

Tier 1

• Isaiah Tyrelle Boyd, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company (WINNER)
• Steven J. Burge, National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
• Joyce Cohen, The Reservoir, DCPA Theatre Company
• GerRee Hinshaw, Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
• Jim Hunt, Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
• Cajardo Lindsey, Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
• Stephen Pearce, Sense and Sensibility, Theatreworks
• Leslie Sophia Pérez, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company (WINNER)
• Colton Pratt, Sense and Sensibility, Theatreworks
• Tobias A. Young, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company

Tier 2

• David Austin-Gröen, The 39 Steps, OpenStage Theatre & Company
• Brian Colonna, Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, Buntport Theater Company and square product theatre
• Gabe Combs, Twelfth Night, Shakespeare in the Wild
• Hannah Duggan, Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, Buntport Theater Company and square product theatre
• Erik Edborg, Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, Buntport Theater Company and square product theatre
• Thadd Krueger, Stockade, Local Theater Company
• Heather Ostberg Johnson, The 39 Steps, OpenStage Theatre & Company (WINNER)
• Erin Rollman, Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, Buntport Theater Company and square product theatre
• Jacob Sorling, Stockade, Local Theater Company
• Kelly Uhlenhopp, Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company (WINNER)

Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical – Two Recipients Each Tier

Tier 1

• Colin Alexander, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Bryce Baxter, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Will Branner, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company (WINNER)
• Josh Kellman, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Mitchell Lewis, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre (WINNER)
• Jenna Moll Reyes, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Adriane Leigh Robinson, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Kieran O’Brien, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Megan Opalinski, Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• David Studwell, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company

Tier 2

• Ben Brewer, Spamalot, Thin Air Theatre Company
• Jennifer Burnett, Cabaret, Platte Valley Theatre Arts (WINNER)
• Isabella Duran, Sweeney Todd, StageDoor Theatre
• Alex Forbes, Reefer Madness, OpenStage Theatre & Company
• Tiffany Gruman, Fiddler on the Roof, Performance Now Theatre Company
• Joshua Harris, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company
• Victoria Holloway, Fiddler on the Roof, Performance Now Theatre Company
• Nick Marshall, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company
• Lars Preece, Fiddler on the Roof, Performance Now Theatre Company
• Jessica Sotwick, Sweeney Todd, StageDoor Theatre (WINNER)

Outstanding Ensemble Performance

• Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Downstate, Curious Theatre Company
• Million Dollar Quartet, Lone Tree Arts Center
• Come From Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre (WINNER)
• The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Choreography

• Megan Bliss, The Music Man, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Stephanie Hansen, Kinky Boots, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Jennifer Lupp, Come from Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre (WINNER)
• Rickey Tripp, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
• Kelly Van Oosbree, Fiddler on the Roof, Performance Now Theatre Company

Outstanding New Play or Musical – World Premiere

• The Reservoir, By Jake Brasch, DCPA Theatre Company (WINNER)
• Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, By Buntport Theater Company and Emily K. Harrison, Buntport Theater Company and square product theatre
• The Ballot of Paola Aguilar, By Bernardo Cubría, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC)
• The Suffragette’s Murder, By Sandy Rustin, DCPA Theatre Company
• National Bohemians, By Luke Sorge, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center

Outstanding Costume Design

Tier 1

• Kevin Copenhaver, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities (WINNER)
• Kevin Copenhaver, Million Dollar Quartet, Lone Tree Arts Center
• Beth Goldenberg, The Suffragette’s Murder, DCPA Theatre Company
• Samantha C. Jones, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
• Nicole Watts, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

Tier 2

• Emily K. Harrison and Buntport Theater Company, Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, Buntport Theater Company and square product theatre
• Nicole Harrison, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Performance Now Theatre Company
• Rachel Herring-Luna, Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company
• Susan Rahmsdorff-Terry, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company (WINNER)
• Susan Rahmsdorff-Terry, Pirates of Penzance, Performance Now Theatre Company
• Emily Valley, Reefer Madness, OpenStage Theatre & Company

Outstanding Lighting Design

Tier 1

• Jon Dunkle, Million Dollar Quartet, Lone Tree Arts Center
• Charles R. MacLeod, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
• Vance McKenzie, National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center (WINNER)
• Shannon McKinney, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, The Reservoir, DCPA Theatre Company

Tier 2

• Josiah Croegaert, Cabaret, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
• Price Johnston, Waiting for Godot, Bas Bleu Theatre Company
• Brett Maughan, Fiddler on the Roof, Performance Now Theatre Company
• Brett Maughan, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Give 5 Productions (WINNER)
• Vance McKenzie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company
• Matthew Schlief, The 39 Steps, OpenStage Theatre & Company

Outstanding Scenic Design

Tier 1

• Tony Cisek, The Hot Wing King, DCPA Theatre Company (WINNER)
• Brian Mallgrave, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Alan E. Muraoka, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company
• Cody Tellis Rutledge, Come from Away, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Reid Thompson, The Suffragette’s Murder, DCPA Theatre Company

Tier 2

• Spencer Alton, Cabaret, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
• Andrew Bates, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Performance Now Theatre Company (WINNER)
• Megan Davis, Jeff Jesmer, and Troy Lakey, Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company
• Roger Hanna, Waiting for Godot, Bas Bleu Theatre Company
• Jeff Jesmer and Adrienne Martin-Fullwood, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Firehouse Theater Company
• Jason Laughrey, Chloe Flores, Robert Urrutia, Paul LaBar, and Justin Goss, The Play That Goes Wrong, Steel City Theatre Company

Outstanding Sound Design

Tier 1

• John Hauser, National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center (WINNER)
• Noel Nichols, Daniela Hart, Bailey Trierweiler, and UptownWorks, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, DCPA Theatre Company
• Max Silverman, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Creede Repertory Theatre
• Max Silverman, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Max Silverman, Waitress, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Elisabeth Weidiner, Little Shop of Horrors, DCPA Theatre Company

Tier 2

– TIE

• Megan Davis and Eric Small, The Girl on the Train, Firehouse Theater Company
• Tanner Kelly and Logan Rafdal, Sweeney Todd, StageDoor Theatre
• Madison Kuebler, Perfect Arrangement, Firehouse Theater Company
• Brendan O’Hara, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!), Breckenridge Backstage Theatre (WINNER)
• Kitty Robbins, On Clover Road, Springs Ensemble Theatre (WINNER)
• CeCe Smith, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Firehouse Theater Company
• CeCe Smith, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Give 5 Productions
• Victoria Villalobos, The 39 Steps, OpenStage Theatre & Company